Extract from DfE “Keeping Children Safe in Education” (05 September 2016)
Volunteers
Under no circumstances should a volunteer in respect of whom no checks have been obtained be left unsupervised or allowed to work in regulated activity.
Volunteers who on an unsupervised basis teach or look after children regularly, or provide personal care on a one-off basis in schools and colleges, will be in regulated activity. The school or college should obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (which should include barred list information) for all volunteers who are new to working in regulated activity. Existing volunteers in regulated activity do not have to be re-checked if they have already had a DBS check (which includes barred list information). However, schools and colleges may conduct a repeat DBS check (which should include barred list information) on any such volunteer should they have concerns.
Schools and colleges may obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (not including barred list information), for volunteers who are not engaging in regulated activity but have the opportunity to come into contact with children on a regular basis, e.g. supervised volunteers (see paragraph 126 for supervision). Employers are not legally permitted to request barred list information on a volunteer who, because they are supervised, is not in regulated activity.
The school or college should undertake a risk assessment and use their professional judgement and experience when deciding whether to seek an enhanced DBS check for any volunteer not engaging in regulated activity. In doing so they should consider: • the nature of the work with children; • what the establishment knows about the volunteer, including formal or informal information offered by staff, parents and other volunteers; • whether the volunteer has other employment or undertakes voluntary activities where referees can advise on suitability; and • whether the role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check.
The DBS cannot provide barred list information on any person, including volunteers, who are not in, or seeking to enter, regulated activity.
For further information please contact the school office.
